Cannot update apps on WiFi - iPhone and iPad

cdPritcha wrote:

Ok. I’ve confirmed the problem is with my WiFi router which is a Deco brand. Guess I need to troubleshoot that now.

I will here assume the same TP-Link Deco is offering two or more SSIDs, and that there are not separate subnets and multiple IP routers involved. If there re multiple separate routers involved or multiple subnets, that changes (adds to) the troubleshooting.

Check the firmware for the particular TP-Link Deco device in use, and update the firmware and test again as available. TP-Link has a number of products using the Deco name.

Failing that, review or clean out the traffic filtering and anti-malware and security rules if and as those are configured in the router, restart, and test again. Same for any firewall-based VPN settings.

Failing that, reset the TP-Link Deco to factory settings, and test again.

Failing that, replace the gear.

Try a completely different Wi-Fi network; an entirely separate network, not “I also have tried another WiFi network (same internet connection, just different network) with no change.” sharing.

And if there are any VPN apps around, remove the apps entirely, and restart. Some VPN apps can cause issues even when not apparently active.

Any device management (MDM) profiles installed?

cdPritcha wrote:

thank you for all of your help @MrHoffman. I reset my Deco (x55) but that didn’t work fully. I tried turning off iCloud Private Relay on both my iPhone and iPad and that actually solved the app updating issue. It also solved streaming from Apple TV on my iPad.

That still seems like the Deco is malfunctioning.

Are you using a VPN on those devices or is the router configured for VPN or port blocking?

cdPritcha wrote:

I ended up changing the DNS on the Deco to use Cloudflare’s. This fixed Apple TV streaming as well as letting my iPhone apps update. Oddly though, my iPad still cannot update apps or stream from Apple TV.

on the iPad, I checked the WiFi DNS settings and they are using the new Cloudflare’s ones (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1). I restarted the iPad. Again. But still not able to update apps on it. Anything else I can try for the iPad?

See my previous reply.

The clients would be using whatever the DHCP server in the local firewall / router / NAT / DHCP / gateway box is configured to provide. That’s usually the ISP DNS servers, though can be other public DNS providers.

Cached DNS entries can take a day to clear, depending on the TTLs associated.

If there’s a Mac around, buy the WiFi Explorer tool to check for nearby Wi-Fi network activity, or see if your particular TP-Link Deco gear has some similar monitoring in-built.

Anything else? Ubiquiti Express 7 (UX7) mesh, if you want to try some entry-level pro-sumer gear. That presumes some familiarity with networking, and presumes a migration from TP-Link gear to Ubiquiti gear, though.

cdPritcha wrote:

I’ve confirmed I can update apps on a totally different WiFi network. I also power cycled my modem and WiFi router. Still no luck. Calling my ISP next

Your local network setup is probably blocking this but whether that’s the configuration or the local gear or the ISP, maybe a DNS issue, maybe transient Wi-Fi interference, or something else?

Here are the Apple servers and ports expected available:

Use Apple products on enterprise networks - Apple Support (see the section Software updates)

For other activities and access, a list of ports:

TCP and UDP ports used by Apple software products - Apple Support

Hello~ Anything here help?

If you can’t download or update apps on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

~Katana-San~

cdPritcha wrote:

I’ve confirmed I can update apps on a totally different WiFi network. I also power cycled my modem and WiFi router. Still no luck. Calling my ISP next

Thanks for the update. Please keep us in the loop on any particular setting with the router that is preventing the communication with Apple Servers to update the apps.

Hello once more~ Hmmmm…all apps or one in particular? Screen time?

~Katana-San~